Research Techniques for Media

1. Know about research methods and techniques

Primary Data: 

This is data where the researcher has conducted it themselves. Primary data is used in media because people conduct their own music videos, documentaries, blogs etc.

Advantages:

• Addresses specific research issues as the researcher controls the search
• Great control; it enables the researcher to have a higher control over how the information collected. Taking this into account, the researcher can decide on such requirements as size of project, time-frame and goal.

 

Disadvantages:

• Can be costly
• Time consuming
• Can expect a low response rate - (questionnaires/surveys)

Secondary Data: 

Someone else has conducted the research that an individual is using. In media other peoples work is used and analysed.

Advantages:

• Saves time
• Not expensive

 

Disadvantages:

• Don't know if the information is 100% reliable

 

Quantitative data:

Quantitative data is macro; it’s used to enable results that conduct a cause and effect relationship. This information usually consists of numerical data such as statistics, tallies etc.

The usefulness of quantitative data is that it can be analysed and theories can be produced by the results. Further testing is then done to prove the theory or not, this is repeated and the results will support or neglect the theory.  

Quantitative data can be conducted through systematic methods of investigation, the use of experiments and observation. These methods can be replicated and allows other researchers to carry out their own investigation giving them primary data, this makes the information reliable. 

The disadvantage of the use of quantitative data is that it doesn’t explain what the results are showing in depth, this can lead to other researchers interpreting the results in different ways. Having a big enough sample size is another difficulty, if there isn’t a big enough sample size the data cannot be generalised to the wider society because it wouldn’t portray a true picture. 

Quantitative data in Media could be the ratings given to songs, reviews etc.

Qualitative data:

On the other hand qualitative data is micro and provides detailed, rich descriptions such as personal documents, dairies etc. This data can be conducted through observations and unstructured interviews. 

The usefulness of qualitative data is that it explains what the information so that an individual can read it and interpret it the way that the researcher would have.

Unstructured interviews can be used to produce qualitative data because it allows the participant to elaborate and express their full opinions. Reviews, unstructured interviews etc are used in Media which provides qualitative data.

There are many different ways to carry out research and collect it:

• questionnaires/surveys
• observations (covert/overt)
• interviews (structured/unstructured)
• experiments
• libraries
• internet
• searching archives
• focus groups

 

The internet is used a lot in media, this has its advantages such as being accessible and easy to use, therefore is more likely to be used than focus groups. Focus groups consists of the people having to have a meeting and then discussing the topic etc. Its more work, time consuming and may be costly.

2. Be able to use research methods and techniques to investigate an existing media product

Three groups were observed giving presentations on their ideas for their music videos. The feedback has been posted on Blogger. The method that was used was primary because I observed the presentations and then wrote about them. The technique was an observation because I was just watching the presentations that where being presented. The presentations where about music videos this is an investigation of the existing music videos that are currently being produced.

3. Be able to use research methods and techniques to gather material for a media production 

To produce a music video pre-prodcution had to take place, this meant a lot of research taking place because we had to know who's it marketing to, who's going to be in it, what type of video it'll be etc. This consisted of secondary data because we used ideas of other music videos that have already been produced, this was the method used. Our technique was using the internet for the information that was needed.

 

4. Be able to present results of research

http://www.reelz.com/movie/269805/the-twilight-saga-breaking-dawn-part-1/

These are results of a film that has been released. It shows ratings from critics and users of the website.